The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program at Point Loma in San Diego is home to a cadre of dolphins and sea lions responsible for hunting mines, locating divers, and recovering underwater objects. Over the years, the program has gained a reputation for its innovative approach to health care of marine mammals and its commitment to translational research.

AVMA

Michael Dicks, PhD, spent more than two decades at Oklahoma State University studying the production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods and services. Earlier this year, Dr. Dicks began applying his analytic skills to veterinary medicine as director of the AVMA’s new Veterinary Economics Division.

Issues

Scientists with the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say free-ranging domestic cats kill substantially more wildlife than previously thought and may be the single greatest cause of human-related deaths of birds and mammals in the United States.

Practice

The newest income numbers look better than a lot of veterinarians feel. Median income for full-time private practitioners—comprising owners and associates—increased from $97,000 in 2009 to $100,000 in 2011. “Overall, veterinarians make good livings,” said Dr. Karen E. Felsted of Felsted Veterinary Consulting. “I think what’s difficult is maybe gross earnings aren’t as high as they used to be. And it costs more to run a practice, it costs more to live, student debt is higher.”